5th District Democratic candidates Glassman, Hayes debate for 10th and final time

Mary Glassman, left, and Jahana Hayes, candidates for the Democratic nomination for the 5th U.S. House district seat, square off in a debate Wednesday night, Aug. 8, at WVIT-TV NBC Connecticut in West Hartford.

Mary Glassman, left, and Jahana Hayes, candidates for the Democratic nomination for the 5th U.S. House district seat, square off in a debate Wednesday night, Aug. 8, at WVIT-TV NBC Connecticut in West Hartford.

Photo: Dan Haar / Hearst Connecticut Media

Photo: Dan Haar / Hearst Connecticut Media

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Mary Glassman, left, and Jahana Hayes, candidates for the Democratic nomination for the 5th U.S. House district seat, square off in a debate Wednesday night, Aug. 8, at WVIT-TV NBC Connecticut in West Hartford.

Mary Glassman, left, and Jahana Hayes, candidates for the Democratic nomination for the 5th U.S. House district seat, square off in a debate Wednesday night, Aug. 8, at WVIT-TV NBC Connecticut in West Hartford.

Photo: Dan Haar / Hearst Connecticut Media

5th District Democratic candidates Glassman, Hayes debate for 10th and final time

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Two Democrats vying to replace U.S. Rep. Elizabeth Esty as the 5th District’s congresswoman faced off for the 10th and final time Wednesday during a livestreamed debate.

Mary Glassman and Jahana Hayes battled about the source of some of Hayes’ political contributions, and they battled over Glassman’s decision to leave office as Simsbury’s top elected leader over a pay-cut dispute.

The candidates stated similar positions on representing the 5th District and working with the GOP in Washington, D.C., protecting Obamacare and opposing President Donald Trump’s hard line on issues such as immigration.

“We need to make sure we can work together to get changes we need in health care, and to relieve our student loan debt, but we also need someone who can stand up against this administration,” said Glassman, the former longtime first selectman of Simsbury who won the Democratic endorsement at the May convention. “Some issues like immigration and putting children in cages we cannot compromise on.”

Hayes agreed.

“Some of my positions are progressive because I believe government needs to step up and help people, but some of my positions are more moderate because I believe people have a responsibility to work with government,” said Hayes, the 2016 National Teacher of the Year who now supervises professional development at Waterbury schools. “But nobody in our party believes that what is happening with this White House aligns with our values or morals.”

Glassman and Hayes, who have been battling all summer to raise money and get their name out to a district that stretches from greater Danbury to Massachusetts, have six days left to make their case to Democrats before Tuesday’s primary.

“My campaign has raised 85 percent of my contributions right here in Connecticut and my opponent has received 35 percent of her money from in-state,” said Glassman, who also criticized Hayes for accepting donations from a church that has taken a position against gay marriage.

Hayes, who said she supports LGBT rights and has no plans to return the donations, said her out-of-state money proved she was innovative.

“The fact that I am able to inspire people from across the country shows that people are listening,” said Hayes, who has raised over $500,000 — more than Glassman or Republican candidates, who are locked in their own Aug. 14 primary. “It was hard work, but this is what innovators do — and it is evidence of what I can do as a legislator.”

The hourlong debate, which was moderated by NBC Connecticut Political Reporter Max Reiss, was held in the network’s West Hartford studios, and did not include a live audience.

That was in contrast to a Glassman-Hayes debate on July 30 in Torrington, where a Danbury Democratic Town Committee member who attended said she felt alienated because Hayes identified herself as a woman of color.

That Danbury Democrat, Martha Rhodes, posted her frustration on Facebook, accusing Hayes of “veiled racism.” Democratic leaders, including U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy, condemned the remarks, and Rhodes apologized, saying her comments had no place in politics.